Web Filtering

When the Web Filtering service is enabled, access to Web content is restricted according to the categories specified under Allow Categories. If a user attempts to access a blocked page, the Access Denied page appears. For information on customizing this page, see Customizing the Access Denied Page.

If desired, you can permit specific users to override Web Filtering. Such users will be able to view Web pages without restriction, after they have provided their username password via the Access Denied page. For information on granting Web Filtering override permissions, see Adding and Editing Users.

In addition, you can choose to exclude specific network objects from Web Filtering enforcement. Users connecting from these network objects will be able to view Web pages without restriction, regardless of whether they have Web Filtering override permissions. For information on configuring network objects, see Using Network Objects.

Note: The Web Filtering service is only available if you are connected to a Service Center and subscribed to this service.

Note: The Web Filtering subscription service differs from Web rules in the following ways:

The category-based Web Filtering service is subscription-based and requires a connection to the Service Center, while Web rules are included with the ZoneAlarm router.
The category-based Web Filtering service is centralized, extracting URLs from HTTP requests and sending the URLs to the Service Center to determine whether they should be blocked or allowed. With Web rules, HTTP requests are analyzed in the gateway itself.
The Web Filtering service is category based; that is, it filters Web sites based on the category to which they belong. In contrast, Web rules allow and block specific URLs.
You can use either content filtering solution or both in conjunction. When a user attempts to access a Web site, the ZoneAlarm router first evaluates the Web rules. If the site is not blocked by the Web rules, the Web Filtering service is then consulted. For information on Web rules, see Using Web Rules.

In This Section

Enabling/Disabling Web Filtering

Selecting Categories for Blocking

Configuring Web Filtering Advanced Settings

Temporarily Disabling Web Filtering